With more than 40 years in the transportation industry, Tom Tomasko, a CRST load agent out of San Antonio, TX, says his trucking career started by accident.
“When I was 19, I took a break from college and took a job with a grocery wholesaler selecting groceries. After a while, the drivers would take me with them to help unload (as a lumper), and they started to teach me how to drive the trucks. That’s how I got interested in driving.”
And as it turns out, he was pretty good at it. In 1986, 1987, and 1988, he won driving awards at State Truck Rodeos, sponsored by The American Trucking Association and the North American Trucking Institute (NATMI), including first place in 1987.
After driving for several years, he wanted to put his business degree to use, so he did a short stint as a staff accountant with a regional CPA firm. He quickly learned that the conservative environment wouldn’t work for him.
“During that time, I realized trucking was in my blood, and once that happens, it never leaves,” Tomasko said. “I love everything about trucking. It’s fast-paced, and you’re always problem-solving. I’m not in the trucking business, I’m in the relationship business.”
Tomasko’s driving experience eventually led him to sales, where he used his people skills to find solutions and rates that worked for drivers and customers. “There are times I wonder how I’m going to solve a problem, and then I’ll wake up at 3 in the morning with a solution,” he said.
The Right Opportunity at CRST
As a salesman for a flatbed carrier, Tomasko said the company’s truck count was too low for the volume of business coming in. The situation caused stress for his customers because the company couldn’t provide the availability needed. That’s when Tomasko decided it was time to look for another opportunity where he could better meet the needs of his customers.
In August 2021, he joined CRST as a load agent and his experience went far beyond what he dreamed possible.
“I thought I was going to do this part-time and hoped I could separate from another small company I was working with,” he said. “But in my first full year with CRST, I grossed over a million dollars in revenue. It completely shattered my expectations!”
Tomasko said that being someone who values relationships, it was important to find a company that aligns with his focus on exceptional customer service.
“CRST makes me feel like gold. I truly feel valued,” Tomasko shared. “Whenever I have an issue, they are there for me and treat me great. I’ve worked with other companies, and the retention rate is terrible because they don’t treat people well. It makes a huge difference.”
In addition to the great customer service, Tomasko says the volume of drivers coupled with the Transportation Management System (TMS) CRST provides is like an “easy button” for agents.
“If I could sum it up in one word, it’s EASY. The technology makes it so easy to book and track loads,” explained Tomasko. “And CRST has incredible business girth. They have the availability of trucks you need to handle almost anything. It’s a fantastic partnership for growing my business.”
Tomasko says the future of his business is limitless. He’s busier than ever and will need to hire more people to support his anticipated growth in 2024. “If anyone is interested in becoming a load agent with CRST and they have a few good customers, it’s an incredible opportunity!”
For more information about becoming an agent with CRST, contact us at CRST@CRST.com.
